Louise White and Larry Cassidy have combined with Irish Songs to cause a boil over in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday afternoon.
The seven-year-old gelding was friendless in the betting, jumping as a $31 roughie with most online bookmakers, but he won like he was in single figures, recording a one-length victory over the fast-finishing Cepheus ($11).
This son of Shamus Award has been up a long time since Louise White was sent the horse, making this start his ninth since joining her stable back in January this year.
After jumping from barrier five, Cassidy settled Irish Songs off the rail in the middle of the field, before he found a gap on the outside of runners to burst through and let down with a blistering turn of foot to run straight on by the leaders.
2023 Glasshouse Handicap Replay – Irish Songs
Louise White recorded her first Listed win as a trainer with Irish Songs' victory and she spoke post-race.
“He's a beautiful horse and it's a great result for the owner, I've trained for him from the beginning,” White said.
“He hasn't been in the best of health, but winning races is the best form of medicine, so I'm sure this will perk him up.
“He got balloted out of the BRC Sprint so we had come up with another plan, and it's all worked out perfectly in the end.
“He's a lovely happy horse to have around the stable, so it's great to get a result like this and for the staff to be rewarded for all their efforts.”
Larry Cassidy brought up his first winner at the Sunshine Coast on Caloundra Cup Day, and he spoke post-race.
“All honours to Louise and her staff, because they've done a great job with this guy,” Cassidy said.
“He really isn't an easy horse to ride, you have to bounce him and ride him hard early, but then you can't restrain him.
“At about the 700-metre mark I had to get off Kyle Wilson-Taylor's back, because I just couldn't hold the horse anymore.
“So I was happy to be three wide, because if you let him flow into the race he enjoys it.
“His previous two starts, even though he hasn't been beaten far, he hasn't been able to flow into the race but today was a different story.”